THE LINGUOPOETICS OF ZAHIRIDDIN MUHAMMAD BABUR'S "DIVAN"

Abstract

Zahiriddin Muhammad Babur (1483–1530), a towering figure of Uzbek classical literature and a poet among kings, developed his craft in the literary milieu of Fergana. His father, Umarshaikh Mirzo, was a ruler who cherished literature and delighted in reciting poetry. However, unlike his father, Babur possessed innate poetic talent and composed verses himself.

As the historian Muhammad Haydar noted, "After Amir Alisher Navoi (may God have mercy on him), no one in the Turkic language could compose poetry of such caliber." Consequently, "his odes, rubaiyat, and ghazals are extraordinary." Indeed, in the words of literary scholar Vahob Rahmanov, "Babur stands beside the genius Alisher Navoi as a master of classical wordcraft—a poet and writer. In terms of artistic skill, no other Uzbek ruler-poet can rival Babur."